1919 Stearns-Knight SKL-4

Frank Stearns built his first automobile in 1896. By 1900, he had established the F.B. Stearns Company in Cleveland, Ohio. His goal was 'to build a motorcar that would beat the world.' As a skilled machinist, he sought perfection in the materials he used and in the design and workmanship. Stearns automobiles would earn a reputation as being among the most powerful, reliable, and well-built automobiles of the era.

This 7-passenger Touring Car was the largest offering for 1919. It featured jump seats and was originally delivered to a dealer in Boise, Idaho. Upon delivery, the dealer decided to put the car into long-term storage, where it remained until 1963. At that time, William Harrah learned of the car and purchased it for the famed Harrah Automobile Collection in Reno, Nevada. At the time, the odometer read just 751 miles. Upon Harrah's passing, the car would be sold at auction in 1985.

Deterioration to the paint and seats necessitated some cosmetic work at the time. The current owner is the third, and he would perform an engine rebuild as it had sat for so long unused. Other than that, the car is virtually as new. The owner states that 'the cross-hatching on the metal clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals is as perfect as the day they were manufactured, and most of the car shows the same newness.'